Should a membership fee be implemented?

Hi,
I first accessed this site as I am currently looking to buy a Buick, as far as that goes there is no way that I would ever have paid $5 to a website that I had never seen before and although the information provided here is very useful as a new member I would still be reluctant to pay.


As it turns out the car I was looking at was a hunk of crap even though I had originally thought it was a bargain.

 

However that being said I would gladly donate in the future if I eventually find the right car as I'll definitively need help at some stage haha

 

Let the season move you on this too? (Re: membership fee?)

Dear V-8 Buick members,

As soon as I got to know the site, it was clear to me that it was going to be of very great value to me. So I put my money where my interests were and made a donation.

Christmas is a traditional time to made donations for worthy causes of all sorts. Since it has been about a year since I have donated, I went ahead and made a donation in thanks for the help this past year and the expectation for more help in the coming year.

If everyone who looked at this thread opened their wallets a little - no compulsory membership fee would be necessary. Could each of us in our own way find the generosity to make a mandatory fee unnecessary?

Cheers, Edouard

 

Re: Let the season move you on this too? (Re: membership fee?)

I have an idea that may be far out, or already available. You know the magnets we put on our cars at car shows? The one that says look but don't touch or this car is driven so please forgive the imperfections? How about one that says this car is owner is (sponored?) or a member of V8 buick.com given to members that give 50 bucks or more and maybe a t-shirt to wear at car shows for 100 bucks or more? would advertise and support the website.

 

Re: Let the season move you on this too? (Re: membership fee?)

The entire value and content of the site is in the posts of the members. That is their contribution. Without their contribution the site would be worthless. The value of the site is the members. The product itself is the members so no I dont think there should be a fee. Its a fair exchange all the time we spend here reading and posting the content.

The income from the sponsors should be sufficient to cover web hosting and the vbulletin software. What does that amount to maybe $50/month for hosting and one time fee of 2 or 3 hundred for the software + periodic upgrades?

I love this board and if I have to pay I will but it shouldn't be required.

If there are expenses, simply post a transparent statement of the cost of the site and ask for donations to cover it. I would be happy to donate this way maybe put a special badge next to the name of the members that donate and be sure to show how much total is donated for the year, how much ad revenue there is and how much the actual expenses are.

If the site is for profit, simply state it openly. There is no shame in that but let the sponsors pay to reach us with their ads its only fair after all we supply ALL of the content and value for the site.